Radio frequency switch for diversity receiver

ABSTRACT

A diversity receiver switch includes at least one second stage switch configured to communicate with a transceiver. The diversity receiver switch may also include at least one first stage switch coupled between a diversity receiver antenna and the second stage switch(es). The first stage switch(es) may be configured to handle a different amount of power than the second stage switch(es). The diversity receiver switch may include a bank of second stage switches configured to communicate with a transceiver. A first stage switch may be configured to handle more power than each switch in the bank of second stage switches. Alternatively, the diversity receiver switch include a bank of first stage switches coupled between the diversity receiver antenna and a second stage switch. The second stage switch may be configured to handle more power than each of the first stage switches.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present description is related, generally, to integrated circuits,more specifically, to a radio frequency switch design for a diversityreceiver.

BACKGROUND

A wireless handset/device includes a primary antenna for receiving andtransmitting signals. A secondary antenna may also be provided for adiversity receiver. Generally, the primary antenna operates normally andis on all of the time.

Radio Frequency switches are used in many different ways in wirelessdevices. For example, RF switches can connect the primary antenna and/ora diversity antenna to a transmitter and a receiver. If a switch, forexample, a primary transceiver switch, is specified to handle bothtransmit power levels and receive power levels, the design of the switchis more complex and generally larger. In particular, for higher powerapplications, e.g., greater than 30 dB, a triple gate or a stack offield-effect transistors are specified.

A diversity receiver switch is implemented in the diversity receive pathof the wireless device, and the diversity receiver switch operates inconjunction with a primary transceiver switch. Conventionally, thediversity receiver switch, however, is not designed specifically fordiversity receivers. Instead, the diversity receiver switch is designedto include a power handling capacity similar to the primary transceiverswitch implemented in the primary transceiver path. Although,implementing a higher power handling diversity receiver switch in thediversity receiver path may be adequate, doing so may result in aninefficient use of power, increased complexity, and an unnecessary useof space in the wireless device.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a diversity receiver switchis described. The diversity receiver switch may include at least onesecond stage switch configured to communicate with a transceiver. Thediversity receiver switch may also include at least one first stageswitch coupled between a diversity receiver antenna and the at least onesecond stage switch. The least one first stage switch may be configuredto handle a different amount of power than the at least one second stageswitch.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a diversity receiver switchincludes means for switching communications with a transceiver. Thediversity receiver switch may also include means for switchingcommunications between a diversity receiver antenna and a transceiverswitching means. The antenna switching means may be configured to handlea different amount of power than the transceiver switching means.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, a method forcommunication within a diversity receiver switch is described. Themethod includes decoupling a diversity antenna signal from at least onesecond stage switch when the diversity receiver is in an off state. Themethod further includes coupling the diversity antenna signal to the atleast one second stage switch when the diversity receiver is in an onstate.

According to an additional aspect of the disclosure, a method forcommunication within a diversity receiver switch is described. Themethod includes the step of decoupling a diversity antenna signal fromat least one second stage switch when the diversity receiver is in anoff state. The method further includes the step of coupling thediversity antenna signal to the at least one second stage switch whenthe diversity receiver is in an on state.

Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be describedbelow. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that thisdisclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designingother structures for carrying out the same purposes of the presentdisclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art thatsuch equivalent constructions do not depart from the teachings of thedisclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features,which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as toits organization and method of operation, together with further objectsand advantages, will be better understood from the following descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided forthe purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended asa definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present teachings, reference isnow made to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network that includes a Global System For MobileCommunications (GSM) network and a Universal Mobile CommunicationsSystem (UMTS) network.

FIG. 2 illustrates a wireless handset including a primary transceiverpath and a diversity receiver path.

FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional diversity receiver switch configuredto accommodate an increased power handling specification.

FIG. 4 illustrates a transistor configuration for each switch of adiversity switch configuration.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a diversity receiver switch configured toaccommodate a lower power handling specification according to someaspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for communication within adiversity receiver switch according to a further aspect of thedisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a wireless communication system inwhich an aspect of the disclosure may be advantageously employed.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a design workstation used for thecircuit, layout, and logic design of a semiconductor component, such asthe diversity receiver switch disclosed above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below, in connection with theappended drawings, is intended as a description of variousconfigurations and is not intended to represent the only configurationsin which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detaileddescription includes specific details for the purpose of providing athorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may bepracticed without these specific details. In some instances, well-knownstructures and components are shown in block diagram form in order toavoid obscuring such concepts.

The diversity receiver switch described herein may be used forcommunication, computing, networking, and other applications. Forexample, the diversity receiver switch may be implemented in a cellularphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem card, anaccess point, or some other device for wireless communication. Thewireless device may also be called a mobile station, a user equipment, aterminal, a subscriber unit, a station, or some other terminology.

In some aspects, the diversity receiver switch described herein may beused for various wireless communication systems such as a code divisionmultiple access (CDMA) system, a time division multiple access (TDMA)system, a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) system, anorthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system, anorthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system, asingle-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) system, andother systems that transmit modulated data. The terms “network” and“system” are often used interchangeably. A CDMA network may implement aradio technology, such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA),Telecommunications Industry Association's (TIA's) CDMA2000®, and thelike. The UTRA technology includes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and othervariants of CDMA. The CDMA2000® technology includes the IS-2000, IS-95and IS-856 standards from the Electronics Industry Alliance (EIA) andTIA. A TDMA network may implement a radio technology, such as GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA network may implement aradio technology, such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband(UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20,Flash-OFDMA, and the like. The UTRA and E-UTRA technologies are part ofUniversal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). 3GPP Long TermEvolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) are newer releases of the UMTSthat use E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A and GSM are described indocuments from an organization called the “3rd Generation PartnershipProject” (3GPP). CDMA2000® and UMB are described in documents from anorganization called the “3rd Generation Partnership Project 2” (3GPP2).For clarity, much of the description below is for an integrated circuitdevice (e.g., a diversity receiver switch for a cellular phone) in GSMand UMTS system. The integrated circuit device may be part of a device(e.g., cellular phone) configured to receive and process GPS signalsfrom GPS satellites.

In general, the diversity receiver switch may support any number ofradio technologies and any of the radio technologies known in the art.For clarity, the diversity receiver switch is specifically describedbelow for GSM and UMTS.

In emerging wireless device applications, a secondary or diversityreceiver antenna may be used in conjunction with a primary antenna. Someaspects of the disclosure implement a diversity receiver switch thatincludes a reduced number of transistors for accommodating reduced powerhandling specifications. The reduced number of transistors enables asmaller chip area and board area for the diversity receiver switch.

Some aspects of the disclosure include a diversity receiver switchdesign for a diversity receiver path that reduces the size of the switchimplementation. The switch can be implemented in different technologiesincluding but not limited to gallium arsenide (GaAs), silicon oninsulator (SOI), silicon on sapphire (SOS), silicon on glass (SOG), bulkcomplimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and other III-Vsemiconductor technology such as gallium nitride (GaN) and indiumgallium phosphide (InGaP) and other like semiconductor technologies.

FIG. 1 illustrates a network 100 that includes a GSM network 110 and aUMTS network 120. The terms “network” and “system” are often usedinterchangeably. The UMTS network 120 implements WCDMA and is alsoreferred to as a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The term“UMTS” and “WCDMA” are used interchangeably in the description below.The GSM network 110 and UMTS network 120 are two wireless networks thatemploy different radio technologies but belong to the same serviceprovider or network operator.

The GSM network 110 includes base stations 112 that communicate withterminals within the coverage area of the GSM network 110. A basestation is a fixed station that communicates with the terminals and maybe called, a base transceiver station (BTS), an access point, and so on.A mobile switching center (MSC) 114 couples to the base stations 112 andcoordinates and controls these base stations. The UMTS network 120includes base stations 122 that communicate with terminals within thecoverage area of the UMTS network 120. A radio network controller (RNC)124 couples to the base stations 122 and coordinates and controls thesebase stations 122. The RNC 124 communicates with the MSC 114 to supportinter-working between the GSM and UMTS networks 110, 120.

A terminal/user equipment 150 is capable of communicating with the GSMnetwork 110 and UMTS network 120. This capability allows a user toobtain the performance advantages of UMTS and the coverage benefits ofGSM with the same terminal. The terminal 150 may be fixed or mobile andmay be called an access terminal (AT), a mobile station (MS), a mobileequipment (ME), and so on. The terminal 150 may be a cellular phone, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless modem, a wirelesscommunication device, a handheld device, a subscriber unit, and so on.The terminal/UE 150 may be designed to operate on one or more frequencybands.

FIG. 2 illustrates a wireless device 200 including a primary transceiverswitch 206 of a primary transceiver and a diversity receiver switch 208of a diversity receiver. A primary receiver/transmitter (or transceiver)path includes a primary antenna 202, the primary transceiver switch 206,and a transceiver 210. The primary antenna 202 may be coupled to theprimary transceiver switch 206 via an interconnect 212. The transceiver210 may be coupled to the primary transceiver switch 206 via aninterconnect 216. A diversity receiver path includes a diversity antenna204, the diversity receiver switch 208, and the transceiver 210. Thediversity antenna 204 may be coupled to the diversity receiver switch208 via an interconnect 214. The transceiver 210 may be coupled to thediversity receiver switch 208 via an interconnect 218. In anotherconfiguration, the primary transceiver and the diversity receiver areintegrated on a same chip with the transceiver 210.

The diversity receiver path may be configured for receiving signalswhile the primary transceiver path is configured for both receiving andtransmitting signals. Accordingly, the primary transceiver path isspecified to accommodate higher power handling capabilities associatedwith both transmitting and receiving signals, while the diversityreceiver path handles lower power. A transmitted signal power from theprimary transceiver is generally greater than a received signal power.

In this configuration, the wireless device 200 supports operation onfour frequency bands represented by each of the switches SW-1 to SW-4 ofthe primary transceiver switch 206 and each of the switches SW-5 to SW-8of the diversity receiver switch 208. The four frequency bands supportedby the diversity receiver path may be different from the four frequencybands supported by the primary transceiver path. Accordingly, thewireless device 200 of this configuration may support eight frequencybands. Selection of each of the supported frequency bands is based onthe selection or activation (e.g., turning on) of a switch of theprimary transceiver switch 206 or the diversity receiver switch 208.Each of the switches SW-1 to SW-4, and SW-5 to SW-8 is configured tocommunicate with the transceiver 210. Therefore, when the bandassociated with switch SW-1 is selected, communication to thetransceiver is implemented via the switch SW−1. Although FIG. 2illustrates that the primary transceiver switch 206 and the diversityreceiver switch 208 include four switches, the primary transceiverswitch 206 and the diversity receiver switch 208 may have more or fewerthan four switches electrically coupled in parallel.

Conventionally, the diversity receiver switch 208 in the diversityreceiver path is configured to have the same higher power handlingcapability of the primary transceiver switch 206. Although, implementingthe higher power handling diversity receiver switch 208 in the diversityreceiver path may be adequate, doing so may result in an inefficient useof power, increased complexity, and an unnecessary use of space in thewireless device 200. That is, a diversity receiver has a lower powerspecification because it is off in certain conditions, during which thepower handling specification differs from when the receiver is on.Therefore, an efficient and improved diversity receiver switch isdescribed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional diversity receiver switch 308configured to accommodate an increased power handling specifications ofa primary transceiver switch. In one aspect of the disclosure, theincreased power handling specification of the diversity receiver switch308 is substantially equivalent to the power handling specification ofthe primary transceiver switch 206 (FIG. 2). Although FIG. 3 illustratesthat the interconnect 302 directly couples the diversity receiver switch308 to the diversity antenna 304, the diversity antenna 304 may beindirectly coupled to the diversity receiver switch 308.

The conventional diversity receiver switch 308 may include a bank ofswitches SW−1 to SW-8, each configured according to a single polemulti-throw (e.g., eight) configuration. An output of each switch of thebank of switches SW-1 to SW-8 may be coupled to the transceiver (notshown) to allow band selected communication to the transceiver. In thisconfiguration, the diversity receiver switch 308 supports operation oneight frequency bands. Selection of each of the supported frequencybands is based on the selection of a switch of the bank of switches SW-1to SW-8. Each switch of the bank of switches SW-1 to SW-8 may beconfigured to accommodate the power handling specifications of a primarytransceiver switch.

In general, the power handling specifications for the primarytransceiver switch is, for example, 32 dB, 35 dB, or a similar powerlevel. As noted earlier, implementing this higher power handlingspecification on the diversity receiver switch 308, while adequate, mayresult in an inefficient use of power, increased complexity, and anunnecessary use of space.

For the diversity receiver switch 308 to accommodate the increased orhigher power level specification, the number of transistors associatedwith each switch SW-1 to SW-8 may be increased (e.g., to 7 transistors),and stacked in a cascaded configuration as illustrated in FIG. 4. Inparticular, FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary transistor configuration foreach switch SW-1 to SW-8 of the diversity receiver switch 308, as shownin FIG. 3. The transistor configuration includes transistors T1 to T6stacked in a combination with a parallel configuration (e.g.,transistors T1 to T3) and a series configuration (e.g., transistors T4to T6). In one configuration, the number of transistors in the parallelconfiguration is equal to the number of transistors in the seriesconfiguration.

Transistor stacking can improve the power handling capability of lowvoltage devices because stacking creates a virtual high-voltage CMOSfield effect transistor, for example, that can increase the powerhandling capacity of a device (e.g., a switch). As shown in FIG. 4, thevoltage across the transistors may be evenly divided among thetransistors T1-T3 or T4-T6. The power handling capacity of each switch,SW-1 to SW-8, is proportional to the stack of transistors T1 to T3 or T4to T6, and, consequently, the size of the diversity receiver switch 308.The increased number of transistors for achieving the increased powerhandling specification of the diversity receiver switch 308 alsoincreases the size of the diversity receiver switch 308.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a diversity receiver switch 508 configured toaccommodate a lower power handling specification according to someaspects of the disclosure. The diversity receiver switch 508 isconfigured according to a lower power handling specification because ofthe different power handling specifications associated with on and offconditions of the diversity receiver switch 508. In particular, thediversity receiver switch 508 can be implemented in a diversity receiverpath that also includes a diversity antenna 504 and a transceiver (notshown). The diversity receiver switch 508 includes a first stageincluding a switch SW-9 (FIG. 5A) or a bank of first stage switches 510(FIG. 5B) and a second stage including the bank of second stage switches520 (FIG. 5A) or the switch SW-9 (FIG. 5B).

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first stage and the second stage can beinterchanged (as in FIG. 5B relative to FIG. 5A) depending on thedesired applications. The two-stage configuration may operate accordingto the on and the off conditions of the diversity receiver switch 508.For example, FIG. 5A illustrates that when the diversity receiver switchis off, the first stage, which includes one switch SW-9 is specified tohandle a higher power. Conversely, conventional one stage configurationsspecify that all of the switches handle the higher power associated withthe off condition. Each switch SW-1 to SW-8 of the bank of second stageswitches 520 of FIG. 5A is configured to communicate with thetransceiver (not shown) based on the selected band associated with eachswitch SW-1 to SW-8. The switch SW-9 of FIG. 5B is configured tocommunicate with the transceiver (not shown).

The diversity antenna 504 may be coupled to the first stage, whichincludes the switch SW-9 (FIG. 5A) or the bank of first stage switches510 via an interconnect 502 (FIG. 5B). Although FIGS. 5A and 5Billustrate that the interconnect 502 directly couples the switch SW-9 orthe bank of first stage switches 510 to the diversity antenna 504, thediversity antenna 504 may be indirectly coupled to the first stageswitch SW-9 or the bank of first stage switches 510. The switch SW-9 maybe coupled to the bank of second stage switches 520 via an interconnect506, as shown in FIG. 5A. Although FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate that theinterconnect 506 directly couples the switch SW-9 to the bank offirst/second stage switches 510/520, the bank of first/second stageswitches 510/520 may be indirectly coupled to the switch SW-9.

In some aspects of the disclosure, the switch SW-9 is implemented as asingle pole single throw switch configuration. In some aspects of thedisclosure, each switch SW-1 to SW-8 of the bank of second stageswitches 520 is implemented as a single pole single throw switchconfiguration. In some aspects of the disclosure, the bank offirst/second stage switches 510/520 may be implemented as a single polemulti-throw configuration.

The diversity receiver switch 508 can be implemented to support the GSMmode when the diversity receiver switch 508 is in an off state. In thisstate, the power leaked from a primary antenna to the diversity antenna504 is greater than the power handling capacity associated with the onstate (e.g., in a WCDMA mode) of the diversity receiver switch 508. Inthe off state, the power handling capability of the diversity receiverswitch 508 is based on the power leaked from the primary antenna to thediversity antenna 504.

In general, the power handling capability of the diversity receiverswitch 508, in the off state, is 26 dB, or a similar power level. Insome aspects of the disclosure, the first stage switch SW-9 of thediversity receiver switch 508 is configured to accommodate the off statepower level of the diversity receiver switch 508. For example, inoperation the first stage switch SW-9 is set to an off position toabsorb or accommodate the 26 dB power leaked from the primary antenna tothe diversity receiver switch 508.

The diversity receiver switch 508 also supports a WCDMA mode when thediversity receiver switch 508 is in an on state. In this state, thepower specified for the diversity receiver switch 508 is less than whenthe diversity receiver switch 508 is in the off state. For example,during transmission on the primary transceiver path, the standardtransmit power is set to about 23 dB and for some WCDMA implementations,24 dB or a similar power level. Because there are no transmitters in thediversity receiver path, the primary antenna is isolated from thediversity antenna 504.

In some aspects of the disclosure, a 10 dB (or similar power difference)isolation naturally exists (due to physical distance) between theprimary antenna and the diversity antenna 504. As a result, the powerhandling capability at the diversity receiver switch 508 is specified bysubtracting the 10 dB difference from the 23 dB or 24 dB standardtransmit power, which results in a 13 dB or 14 dB power specification atthe diversity receiver switch 508. In some aspects of the disclosure, anadditional 3 dB of power is accounted for at the diversity receiverswitch 508 to accommodate an impedance mismatch at the diversityreceiver switch 508. As a result, the power handling specification ofthe diversity receiver switch 508 in the on state is about 17 dB, or asimilar power level.

Because the power handling capability of the diversity receiver switch508, both in the on state and the off state, is much less than the powerhandling capability of a conventional diversity switch or a primarytransceiver switch, the number of transistors specified for the currentdiversity receiver switch 508 is reduced. By reducing the number oftransistors, the overall size of the diversity receiver switch 508 isalso reduced. In general, every 3 dB reduction of the power handlingspecification can result in a reduction of the switch size by half. As aresult, one configuration of the proposed two-stage design for adiversity receiver switch provides a significant size and costreduction.

The current diversity receiver switch 508 accommodates the on and offstate by a two-stage design, instead of burdening every port of eachswitch with the off-state power handling. In some aspects of thedisclosure, the two-stage switch design can be applied in any of thegallium arsenide (GaAs), Silicon on Insulator (SOI), Silicon on Sapphire(SOS), Silicon on Glass (SOG) and other CMOS technologies, for anyapplication where a high power handling capability is specified in anoff state, while a low power handling is specified in the on state. Asnoted above, the order of the first stage (or high power handlingspecification stage) and the second stage may be interchanged based ondifferent applications.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 600 for communicationwithin a diversity receiver switch according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, a diversity antenna signal isdecoupled, through at least one first stage switch, from at least onesecond stage switch when the diversity receiver is in an off state, asshown at block 610. For example, FIG. 5A illustrates that when thediversity receiver switch is off, the first stage, which includes oneswitch SW-9 specified to handle a higher power. As shown in FIG. 5B,when the diversity receiver switch is off, the second stage, whichincludes the switch SW-9 is specified to handle a higher power than thefirst stage switches 510, which includes switches SW-1 to SW-8.

As further shown in FIG. 6, the diversity antenna signal is coupled,through the first stage switch(es), to the second stage switch(es) whenthe diversity receiver is in an on state, as shown in block 612. Forexample, FIG. 5A illustrate that the interconnect 506 couples the switchSW-9 to the bank of second stage switches 520 during an on state. Inthis configuration, the first stage switch(es) is configured to handle adifferent amount of power than the second stage switch(es). As shown inFIG. 5B, the switch SW-9 is coupled to the bank of the first stageswitches 510 via the interconnect 506 during the on state and isspecified to handle a higher power than the first stage switches 510.

In one configuration, the diversity receiver switch includes means forswitching communications with a transceiver. In one aspect of thedisclosure, the means for switching communications may be the bank ofsecond stage switches 520, the diversity receiver switch 308 and/ordiversity receiver switch 208 configured to perform the functionsrecited by the means for switching communications, for example, as shownin FIGS. 2, 3, and 5A. In a further aspect of the disclosure, the meansfor switching communications may be the switch SW-9 configured toperform the functions recited by the means for switching communications,for example, as shown in FIG. 5B.

In one configuration, the diversity receiver switch includes a means forswitching communications between a diversity receiver antenna and atransceiver switching means. In one aspect of the disclosure, theantenna switching means may be the switch SW-9 configured to perform thefunctions recited by the antenna switching means, as shown in FIG. 5A.In a further configuration, the antenna switching means may also includea bank of first stage switches 510 configured to perform the functionsrecited by the antenna switching means, for example, as shown in FIG.5B.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an exemplary wireless communicationsystem 700 in which an aspect of the disclosure may be advantageouslyemployed. For purposes of illustration, FIG. 7 shows three remote units720, 730, and 750 and two base stations 740. It will be recognized thatwireless communication systems may have many more remote units and basestations/eNodeBs. Remote units 720, 730, and 750 include IC devices725A, 725C and 725B, which include the disclosed diversity receiverswitch. FIG. 7 shows forward link signals 780 from the base station 740to the remote units 720, 730, and 750 and reverse link signals 790 fromthe remote units 720, 730, and 750 to base stations 740.

In FIG. 7, remote unit 720 is shown as a mobile telephone, remote unit730 is shown as a portable computer, and remote unit 750 is shown as afixed location remote unit in a wireless local loop system. For example,the remote units may be mobile phones, hand-held personal communicationsystems (PCS) units, portable data units such as personal dataassistants, GPS enabled devices, navigation devices, set top boxes,music players, video players, entertainment units, fixed location dataunits such as meter reading equipment, or any other device that storesor retrieves data or computer instructions, or any combination thereof.Although FIG. 7 illustrates remote units according to the teachings ofthe disclosure, the disclosure is not limited to these exemplaryillustrated units. Aspects of the disclosure may be suitably employed inany device, which includes the diversity receiver switch.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a design workstation used forcircuit, layout, and logic design of a semiconductor component, such asthe diversity receiver switch disclosed above. A design workstation 800includes a hard disk 801 containing operating system software, supportfiles, and design software such as Cadence or OrCAD. The designworkstation 800 also includes a display 802 to facilitate design of acircuit 810 or a semiconductor component 812 such as a diversityreceiver switch. A storage medium 804 is provided for tangibly storingthe circuit design 810 or the semiconductor component 812. The circuitdesign 810 or the semiconductor component 812 may be stored on thestorage medium 804 in a file format such as GDSII or GERBER. The storagemedium 804 may be a CD-ROM, DVD, hard disk, flash memory, or otherappropriate device. Furthermore, the design workstation 800 includes adrive apparatus 803 for accepting input from or writing output to thestorage medium 804.

Data recorded on the storage medium 804 may specify logic circuitconfigurations, pattern data for photolithography masks, or mask patterndata for serial write tools such as electron beam lithography. The datamay further include logic verification data such as timing diagrams ornet circuits associated with logic simulations. Providing data on thestorage medium 804 facilitates the design of the circuit design 810 orthe semiconductor component 812 by decreasing the number of processesfor designing semiconductor wafers.

The methodologies described herein may be implemented by various meansdepending upon the application. For example, these methodologies may beimplemented in hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof.For a hardware implementation, the processing units may be implementedwithin one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs),digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices(DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gatearrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers,microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronic units designed toperform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof.

For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. Any machine or computer readablemedium tangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing themethodologies described herein. For example, software code may be storedin a memory and executed by a processor. When executed by the processor,the executing software code generates the operational environment thatimplements the various methodologies and functionalities of thedifferent aspects of the teachings presented herein. Memory may beimplemented within the processor or external to the processor. As usedherein, the term “memory” refers to any type of long term, short term,volatile, nonvolatile, or other memory and is not to be limited to anyparticular type of memory or number of memories, or type of media uponwhich memory is stored.

The machine or computer readable medium that stores the software codedefining the methodologies and functions described herein includesphysical computer storage media. A storage medium may be any availablemedium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to storedesired program code in the form of instructions or data structures andthat can be accessed by a computer. As used herein, disk and/or discincludes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer readable media.

In addition to storage on computer readable medium, instructions and/ordata may be provided as signals on transmission media included in acommunication apparatus. For example, a communication apparatus mayinclude a transceiver having signals indicative of instructions anddata. The instructions and data are configured to cause one or moreprocessors to implement the functions outlined in the claims.

Although the present teachings and their advantages have been describedin detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutionsand alterations can be made herein without departing from the technologyof the teachings as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scopeof the present application is not intended to be limited to theparticular aspects of the process, machine, manufacture, composition ofmatter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As oneof ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from thedisclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developedthat perform substantially the same function or achieve substantiallythe same result as the corresponding aspects described herein may beutilized according to the present teachings. Accordingly, the appendedclaims are intended to include within their scope such processes,machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-stage diversity receiver switch,comprising: at least one second stage switch configured to communicatewith a transceiver; and at least one first stage switch coupled betweena diversity receiver antenna and the at least one second stage switch,the at least one first stage switch being configured to handle adifferent amount of power than the at least one second stage switch. 2.The diversity receiver switch of claim 1, in which the at least onesecond stage switch comprises a bank of second stage switches; and theat least one first stage switch comprises a single first stage switchconfigured to handle more power than the bank of second stage switches.3. The diversity receiver switch of claim 2, in which each second stageswitch comprises transistors fabricated on a substrate selected from agroup consisting of Silicon on Insulator (SOI), Silicon on Sapphire(SOS), or Silicon on Glass (SOG).
 4. The diversity receiver switch ofclaim 2, in which the at least one first stage switch comprises a singlepole single throw switch configuration.
 5. The diversity receiver switchof claim 2, in which each second stage switch comprises a single polesingle throw switch configuration.
 6. The diversity receiver switch ofclaim 2, in which the bank of second stage switches are configuredaccording to a single pole multi-throw switch configuration.
 7. Thediversity receiver switch of claim 2, in which the at least one firststage switch is configured to accommodate an off state powerspecification of the diversity receiver switch.
 8. The diversityreceiver switch of claim 2, in which each switch of the bank of secondstage switches is configured to accommodate an on state powerspecification of the diversity receiver switch.
 9. The diversityreceiver switch of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of firststage switches coupled between the diversity receiver antenna and thebank of second stage switches.
 10. The diversity receiver switch ofclaim 1, in which the at least one first stage switch comprises a bankof first stage switches; and the at least one second stage switchcomprises a single second switch configured to handle more power thanthe bank of first stage switches.
 11. The diversity receiver switch ofclaim 10, in which each first stage switch comprises transistorsfabricated on a substrate selected from a group consisting of Silicon onInsulator (SOI), Silicon on Sapphire (SOS), or Silicon on Glass (SOG).12. The diversity receiver switch of claim 10, in which the at least onesecond stage switch comprises a single pole single throw switchconfiguration.
 13. The diversity receiver switch of claim 10, in whicheach first stage switch comprises a single pole single throw switchconfiguration.
 14. The diversity receiver switch of claim 10, in whichthe bank of first stage switches is configured according to a singlepole multi-throw switch configuration.
 15. The diversity receiver switchof claim 1, integrated into a mobile phone, a set top box, music player,video player, entertainment unit, navigation device, communicationsdevice, personal digital assistant (PDA), fixed location data unit,microprocessor and/or a computer.
 16. A multi-stage diversity receiverswitch, comprising: means for switching communications with atransceiver, and means for switching communications between a diversityreceiver antenna and a transceiver switching means, the antennaswitching means being configured to handle a different amount of powerthan the transceiver switching means.
 17. The diversity receiver switchof claim 16, integrated into a mobile phone, a set top box, musicplayer, video player, entertainment unit, navigation device,communications device, personal digital assistant (PDA), fixed locationdata unit, microprocessor and/or a computer.
 18. A method ofcommunication within a diversity receiver switch, comprising:decoupling, through at least one first stage switch, a diversity antennasignal from at least one second stage switch when the diversity receiverswitch is in an off state; and coupling, through the at least one firststage switch, the diversity antenna signal to the at least one secondstage switch when the diversity receiver switch is in an on state, theat least one first stage switch being configured to handle a differentamount of power than the at least one second stage switch.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising integrating the diversityreceiver switch into a mobile phone, a set top box, music player, videoplayer, entertainment unit, navigation device, communications device,personal digital assistant (PDA), fixed location data unit,microprocessor and/or a computer.
 20. A method of communication within adiversity receiver switch, comprising: the step of decoupling, throughat least one first stage switch, a diversity antenna signal from atleast one second stage switch when the diversity receiver switch is inan off state; and the step of coupling, through the at least one firststage switch, the diversity antenna signal to the at least one secondstage switch when the diversity receiver switch is in an on state, theat least one first stage switch being configured to handle a differentamount of power than the at least one second stage switch.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, further comprising integrating the diversityreceiver switch into a mobile phone, a set top box, music player, videoplayer, entertainment unit, navigation device, communications device,personal digital assistant (PDA), fixed location data unit,microprocessor and/or a computer.